A dinner jacket should be the sleekest item in a man's wardrobe, and by sleek we mean flattering, as well as elegant. This is a function of the suit's formality, which has traditionally dictated pockets without flaps (aka jetted pockets), jackets without vents, and trousers without turn-ups and belt loops but with the outside seams covered. All of these things lengthen the line of the suit, accentuating a man's height and disguising his girth.

There isn't a huge amount of room to manoeuvre when you're in a tux. Beyond switching the dinner jacket for a velvet smoking jacket and changing the black Oxfords for velvet slippers, few men stray far from the classic formula. This means we can get dressed quickly and spend a minute or two adding the right accessories to the mix. When everyone's in a black suit, a white shirt and a black bow tie, a few discreet adornments go a long way. These ones will take you in the right direction.

...As seen in

ISSUE 01 THE TUX

The definitive guide to dressing for, and very much enjoying, the perfect party